Toilet bowl



May 14, 1940. F. L. BERCOT 2.200.687

TOILET BOWL Filed April 14, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet l fZr/m mi A. Ben a2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS y 9 F. L. BVERCOT 2.200.687

TOILET BOWL Filed April 14, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 mwyzam% ATTORNEYS y 1940- F. L. BERCOT- I 2.200.687

TOILET BOWL Filed April 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEYS mechanism inactive for a Patented May 14, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE My inventionrelates to toilet bowls, and has among its objects and advantages the provision of an improved means for closing the seat and cover thereof and at the same time actuating the flushing valve.

An object of my invention is to provide a toilet bowl in which the seat and cover members may be automatically closed under predetermined conditions after being shifted to a raised position and in which novel means are incorporatedfor coaction with one of said members as it is moved to a closed position for actuating the flushing valve. i

In the accompanying drawings: r Figure l is a side elevational view of a toilet bowl illustrating my invention applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the mechanism for moving the seat and cover members to closed position, with the housing enclosing the mechanism broken away for the sake of clearness;

Figure 3 is a viewtaken from the position indicated by line 3-3 of Figure 2; i Figure 4 is a 4 4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a sectional view along the line 5-5 of Figure 2; Figure 6 is a sectional detail view illustrating the brake mechanism for stopping the motor when the seat and cover members are in closed positions; 1 Figure '7 is a fragmentary detail view illustrating a latch mechanism for holding the closing predetermined period of time;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a series of cooperating parts spaced one from the other for the sake of clearness;

Figure 9 is a view of an actuating spring associated with one of the parts of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is an elevational view of one of the parts of Figure 8;

t Figure 11 is an elevational view of one of the brackets connected with the seat;

Figure 12 is a sectional detail view of a portion of a train of gears;

Figure 13 is a view taken from the position indicated by line l3-l3 of Figure 12; and

Figure 14 is a sectional view along the line l4-l4 of Figure 2.

In the embodiment selected to illustrate my, invention, I make use of a toilet bowl In of con-- ventional construction associated with the usual tank l2 provided with a lever or handle l4 for actuating theusual flushing valve (not shown).

The toilet bowl l0, tank l2 and the flushing valve sectional view along the line interposed between the bottom associated therewith the art and need not be described in further de tail. Bowl It is provided with the conventional seat and cover I6 and I8, respectively, which members are adapted to be moved to open positions in the usual manner. Upon the ledge I mount a frame 22 having opposed upstanding are old and well known in flanges 24 which carry a shaft 25 constituting an axis for the seat i6 and the cover "3. i

InFigures Zand 3, I illustrate the seat It as being connected with brackets 28 through the medium of screws 30, which brackets haveupstandingxreaches 32 terminating in bored heads 34 for loosely receiving the shaft 26. Similarly, cover I8 is connected with brackets 36 through the, medium of screws 38, whichbrackets terminate in bored heads 40 mounted loosely on the shaft 26. Thus the seat It and the cover l8 are rotatably mounted on the shaft members may be swung upwardly as a unit or the cover it swung upwardly independently of the seat. In addition, should the cover l8 be raised independently of theseat Hi, the latter may beswung upwardly independently of the cover should the occasion warrant such independent movement.

"Frame 22 includes a floor 42 slotted at 44 for the reception of bolts 46 2|]. Bolts 46 are provided withnuts 48 between which and the floor I position washers 50. Thus the floor 42 may be fixedly clamped against the ledge 20 through tightening of the nuts 48. Figure 1 illustrates a cushioning pad 52 as being face of the floor 42 and the ledge 20, which cushioning pad may comprise sheet rubber.

Upon the floor 42 I mount cushioning cylinders 54 and56 for damping the fall of the seat It and the cover l8, respectively. Each cylinder is provided witha head 58 and each head includes bored lugsfifl for loosely receiving a shaft 52 car ried by the upstanding legs 64 interconnected at their bottoms by a cross member 66, see Figures 2 and 6. Thus each shaft 62 is supported by a U-shaped bracket with its member 66 constituting the bight of that bracket, fixedly related tothe floor 42 by screws 68.

Figure 4 illustrates the specific construction of the cushioning cylinder 56, and since the two cylinders are identical in construction and operation the description of one will apply to both.

anchored to the ledge 26, and the two which bight is The tubular body 'lflis threaded at 12 to have ing loosely through an opening 80 in the bottom cap 82 having a flange 84 threadedly related to the lower end of the body 10, as at 85. Cap 82 includes an air vent 88, and Figure 4 illustrates the normal position of the piston 16 when the cover I8 is in its elevated position.

Head 58 includes a boss 90 having a threaded bore 92 terminating in a port 94 having communication with the interior of the cushioning cylinder. A valve 08 is threaded into the bore 82 and includes a tapered end 98 arranged to partly close the port I00 which establishes communication between the port 94 and the atmosphere. Thus upward movement of the piston 16 insidethe tubular body 10 compresses the air trapped in the body above the piston, and the valve 98 controls the escape of such compressed air so as to dampen the momentum of the cover I0 as it approaches a closed position. The outer end of the rod 18 is pivotally connected at I02 with one end of an arm I04 which rotates about the axis of the shaft 26. I

Figure 8 illustrates the arm I04 as being provided with ahead I08. Head I08 is provided with a bore I08 of such diameter as to receive the sleeve M0 on a head II2 which carries a latch arm H4. Sleeve H0 rotates inside the bore I08 in addition to being rotatably mounted on the shaft 28. Sleeve H0 is provided with two di-'- ametrically opposed lugs II0 which terminate substantially fiush with the end II8 of the head I08. Head I08 is also provided with diametrically opposed lugs I20, and the head 40 associated with one of the brackets 86 is provided with two lugs I22 which extend into the recesses I24 in the adjacent end of the head I06, see Figure 14. Figure 14 illustrates the position of the lugs I22 when the cover I8 is closed. Lugs I22 are arranged to engage the ends I20 of the lugs I20 when the cover I8 has been lifted upwardly and backwardly slightly short of a vertical position. Rotation of the cover I8 beyond the point of engagement between the lugs I22 and I20'will rotate the head I05 to pivot the arm I04 from the normal position of Figure 3 to the position of Figure 4, at which time the piston 18 will lie at the lower end of the tubular body 10. The outer end of the arm I04 will engage the floor 42 to support the cover I8 in the angular position of Figure 4. Movement of the cover I8 in a closing direction will cause upward travel of the piston 18 for compressing air in the cushioning cylinder 56. The air cushion functions to stop the cover I8 short of engagement with the seat I5 after which the'cover will fall slowly to a position of rest on the seat as the compressed air bleeds past the valve 90. Cylinder 56 is rotatable on its associated shaft 02 so as to accommodate pivotal movement of the arm I04.

Normally the latch arm H4 is positioned as illustrated in Figures 3 and 5. Latch arm H4 is shifted to the position illustrated in Figures 4 and '1 as the cover I8 is moved from its normal position of Figure 3 to the raised position of Figure 4. Such shifting of the latch arm is accomplished through the medium of engagement between the lugs H8 on the sleeve H0 and the lugs I22 on the adjacent head 40. Figure 14 illustratesthe lugs IEO as normally being in engagement with the lugs I22. Such engagement is maintained by reason of a coil spring I28 positioned on the sleeve I I0 adjacent the head H2. The end I of the coil spring is anchored in a bore I32 in the head H2, and the head is recessed at I34 to partly house the convoluted of the spring spring. Bore I03 in the head I00 is enlarged at I35 for housing the remainder of the convoluted spring, and the end I38 of the spring lies in a groove I40 in the wall of the bore I00. Spring I28 is so wound as to normally urge the latch arm H4 in a clockwise direction when viewing Figures 3, 5 and '7. Thus the tension of the spring I28 normally holds the dogs H8 in engagement with the dogs I22, as illustrated in Figure 14.

To one side of the latch arm I'I4 I pivotally connect a pawl I42, see Figures 2 and 5, which pawl is loosely mounted for rotation on a pin I44,

fixed to the latch arm. The pawl includes a finger I46 urged against a stop pin I48 fixed to the latch arm II4 by reason of a convoluted spring I50 having one end hooked about the pawl at I52 and its opposite end anchored to the stop pin I48. As the latch arm IE4 is pivoted downwardly from the position illustrated in Figure 5, its finger I54 is brought into engagement with a ledge I56 on one side of a rack actuating arm I I58 having a sleeve I00 pivoted on the shaft 26,

best illustrated in Figure 2. Rack actuating arm I58 is normally urged to the position of Figure 5 by reason of a motor spring I52 having one end hooked over a pin I04 fixed to the arm I58 and its opposite end connected with a fixed support I68. Spring IE2 is under tension in all positions of the rack actuating arm I58. Movement of the cover I8 from its normal position of Figure 5 to the raised position of Figure 4 pivots the arm I58 downwardly to the position of Figure 4. During downward movement of the latch arm II4 its lug I68 depresses a latch member I10 against the tension of a spring I12 having one end fixedly connected with the latch I10 and its opposite end resting on the floor 42. Latch I10 is depressed to such a position as to bring the lug I08 partly underneath its edge I14 which latches the arm H4 in the position of Figure 4.

Latch I10 is flanged at I18 and I18 and the flanges bored to be loosely mounted on a shaft I80 carried by upstanding members I82 interconnected by a strap I84 fixedly related to the floor 42 by screws I86, see Figures 6 and 7. With the lug I08 illustrated in Figure '7 in engagement with the edge I14, the latch I10 is restrained from pivotal movement in the direction of the arrow I88 by reason of a right-angular flange I00 abutting the strap I84. With the parts adjusted according to Figure 7, the tension I28 is rendered inefiective for pivoting the latch arm engagement between the lug I08 and the edge I14 of the latch I10.

During pivotal movement of the latch arm II4 from the position of Figure 4 to that illustrated in Figure '7, the finger I54 engages the ledge I56 on the rack actuating arm I58 for pivoting the latter downwardly against the tension of the spring I82. As the latch arm I I4 approaches the position of Figure 7, the finger I02 on the pawl I42 is brought into engagement with a pin I94 which pivots the pawl sufiiciently far to bring the finger I54 out of holding relation with the ledge I50 to free the arm I58. At the same time, the pawl I42 includes a finger I06 which is pivoted underneath a latch hook I98 pivoted at 200 to a fixed support 202 on the wall 204 of the frame 22. Latch hook I08 is urged downwardly about its pivot 200 by reason of a spring 206. Thus the latch hook I08 holds the pawl I42 in such position as to support the finger I54 in the clear of the pathof the ledge I50as the arm I58 is pivoting upwardly. Latchhook I93 includes a curved H4 upwardly by reason of cam face 208 which engages the finger I96 to permit the finger to cam the latch hook upwardlyto such a position as to bring the finger downwardly slightly beyond the position of Figure 7. As the latch arm H4 pivots in a reverse direction for engagement with the edge I14 the latch hook I98 engages the finger I96 and pivots the pawl sufiiciently far to bring the finger I54 out of latching relation with the ledge I56, but further pivotal movement of the latch arm H4 is resisted by the latch I70.

I One end of a rack 210 is pivotally connected between the outer ends of the finger elements 2I2 of the rack actuating arm I58 by reason of a pin 2I4, see Figures 2 and 5. The rack is slidable in a U-shaped guide 2H3 having its legs 2I8 bored to be loosely mounted on a shaft 22c I having a pinion 222 keyed thereto between the legs 2I8, see Figures 2, 5 and 12. Pinion 222 is.

in mesh with the rack 2| and is supported in such meshed relation by reason of the guide 2 I6.

The endsof the shaft 228 are rotatably journaled at 224 in upstanding parallel plates 226 fixedly related to the frame 22. Pinion 222 is rotated in afcounter-clockwise direction by the rack 2m when viewing Figure 5.

Referring to Figure 12, a bearing washer 228 is positioned on the shaft 22!! and. a gear 23!) having a bore 232 for loosely receiving the Wash er 228 is positioned adjacent one of the legs 218 of the guide2I6Q Figures 12 and 13 illustrate a ratchet wheel 234 as being keyed to the shaft 220 and arranged for cooperation with a pawl 23$ pressed against the ratchet wheel 234 by a spring 238. Pawl 236 is pivotally mounted at 248 to one face of the gear 23%, and the spring 238 is anchored at one end to the gear 23!], as at 242.

Thus counter-clockwise. rotation of the pinion 222, when viewing Figure 5, will impart similar rotation to the gear 230. Downward pivotal movement of the rack actuating arm I58 will rotate the pinion 222 in a clockwise direction, when viewing Figure 4, but the ratchet wheel 234 will then rotate relatively to the pawl 236 so that the pinion 222 may be rotated independently of the gear 236 in one direction only.

\ Gear 230 is arranged in mesh with a pinion 244 fixed to a gear 246, with both the pinion and the gear fixedly connected With a shaft 248 rotatably journaled in the plates 226. Gear 246 is in mesh with a pinion 250 fixed to a gear 252, with both the pinion and the gear fixed on a shaft 254 rotatably journaled in the plates 2H3. meshes with a pinion 256 keyed on a shaft 258 rotatably journaled in the plates 2IB. An escapement element 260. is keyed on a shaft 262 rotatably journaled in the plates 2 I8, and a heavy wheel 264 is keyed to the shaft. Escapement element 260 coacts with the escapement wheel 266, and the weighted wheel 264 is oscillated with the escapement element 260 as the escapement wheel 266 is rotated in the direction of the arrow 268.

Gear 252 mechanism constitutes a motor. With the latch arm II4 latched in the position of Figure 4, the arm presses against a spring 215). Figure 5 illustrates the normal position of the spring, while Figure l illustrates the spring under fiexure so as to impart a forceful kick to the latch arm I I4 when the latch ill] is moved out of engagement with the lug IE8.

Means for moving the latch I out of engagement with the ledge I68 comprises a cam plate 222 carried by the upper end of the flange I18, see Figure '7. Cam plate 272 is angled at 274 to be engaged by one end of the pin 2I4 which is extended to lie in the path of the angular face 274 as the arm I58 approaches its normal position. The path of the pin 2M is illustrated by the curved line 2'16 in Figure 7. As the pin engages the angular face 2T4, the flange I'It is pivoted in the direction of the arrow 218 for rotatingthe latch Hit about the axis of the shaft we sufficiently far to movethe edge I74 out of holding relation with the lug I68. The spring am will then kick the latch arm I I4 upwardly. With the cover I8 in the position of Figure l, the lugs i Won the sleeve I It associated with the latch arm impart rotary motion to the brackettt provided with the lugs I22 for throwing the cover to its closed position. While the movement of the cover is quite sudden beyond the vertical, the cover is prevented from immediately striking the seat It by reason of the damping action of the cushioning cylinder 55. Lowering of the cover I8 beyond the vertical also actuates the flushing valve I4. Figure 3 illustrates the frame 22 as being provided with an upstanding wall 220 which carries ashaft 2132 upon which is plvotally t shaft 232 with one end hooked over the wall 282 at 292 andits opposite end hooked over the lever 284, as at 294.

The head iiixof the bracket 3% provided with the lugs I22 is provided with a trip flange 296 for actuating the lever 284 to exert a. pull on the cable 236 when the cover is moved to a closed position. The end of the lever 224 opposite the point of connection with the cable 286 is bifurcated at 228 for pivotal connection with a trip pawl tIlIl pivotally mounted on the pin 382 carried by the bifurcated end of the lever 284, see Figure 2. Referring to Figure 3, the triplpawl 308 includes an end 384 which engages the face 306 on the lever 234, see Figure 2. Trip pawl 38!) normally extending into the path of the trip fiange 296 but engagement of the flange 2% with the pawl will pivot the latter to permit the flange.

Since the p to be moved underneath the pawl. pawl B is restrained from pivoting upwardly beyond the position of Figure 3, lowering of the cover it will bring the trip flange 2% into engagement with the pawl and pivot the lever 28% for exerting a downward pull on the cable 286.

The arm Hi2 associated with the cushioning cylinder 5d includes branches 3H] and M2 between which the head d2 of one of the brackets 36 is positioned. Figures 10 and 11 illustrate the arm Hi2 and the adjacent bracket 28. The head 3 1 Of the bracket 28 ispro-vided with two lugs 3M which lie in recesses Sit in one face of the branch 312. Lugs 31 i are arranged to engage the lugs m on the branch M2 for pivoting the arm I92 downwardly when the seat has been raised substantially to a vertical position. This action is the same as that in connection with the bracket 36 of Figure 8 in relation to the arm HM illustrated therein. Thus movement of the seat to its full open position will pivot the arm I02 associated with the cushioning cylinder 54 to its lower position so as to dampen the fall of the seat. Spring 21E of Figure 4 kicks the latch arm lid with sufficient force to throw both the seat and the cover beyond the vertical for closing purposes. The momentum of the cover is such as to effectively pivot the lever 28 of Figure 3 for actuating the flushing valve.

Raising of the cover alone will shift the rack 2 Hi to the lower position of Figure 4 and the rack will move upwardly slowly immediately upon release of pressure on the cover. With the seat i6 down and no additional pressure load thereon, the rack will continue upward movement, but means is provided for arresting such movement through the application of a load on the seat Hi. In fact, the load of the cover l8 when in a position of rest on the seat it is sufiicient to arrest movement of the rack or what might be defined as the motor when the gearing and the spring M32 are considered in association with the rack.

Referring to Figure 6, the wall 204 of the frame 22 is provided with bodies 326 which are bored at 322 for the reception of compression springs 324 interposed between the bottoms of the bores and heads 3% on pins 328 slidable in bores 330. Heads 326 are slidable inside the bores 322, and the heads project beyond the race of the wall 2% to be engaged by the reaches 32 of the brackets 28 when the seat it is in a lowered position, see Figures 4 and 6. One of the pins 30 engages a downwardly extending pin 332 on an arm 33 pivoting about a shaft part 336 to which I fixedly relate one end of a wire 3% which carries a I friction body MD at one end arranged for engagement with the heavy wheel 26 associated with a the shaft 26?. which carries the escapement element 2%. A convoluted spring 342 is associated with the arm 33 for pivoting the same in a direction tending to move the friction body 3% away from the Wheel 26%. a

When the cover it and the seat it are down, the weight of the cover on the seat is sufiicient to move one of the heads 326 sufilciently far to pivot the friction body MG into sufficient pressure relation with the wheel 284 to prevent rotation thereof which constitutes a brake for the motor. It will thus be seen that the motor is rendered inoperative so long as the cover I8 is raised and additional weight rests on the seat Iii.

Figure 1 illustrates a cover 344 for enclosing the mechanism, which cover is detachably connected with the frame 22 through the medium of screws 3%, see Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5. Cover 344 is provided with an opening 348 for the cable 285,

to open positions, and

One of the upstanding members 64 associated with the cushioning cylinder 56 is provided with a stop pin 355i) arranged in the path of the lever 284 to hold it in the normal position of Figure 3.

Having thus described certain embodiments of my invention in detail, it is, of course, understood that I do not desire to limit the scope thereof to the exact details set forth except in so far as those details may be defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a toilet bowl having a flushing means and a pair of seat members adapted to be moved to open positions, a pivot for the seat members, a power means operatively connected with one of said seat members for moving the two members to closed positions,-means operatively connected with the flushing means and actuated by one of said members moving to a closed position for operating the flushing means, said members being adapted for independent manual movement one of the members being adapted to move the other member to its closed position.

2. In a toilet bowl having a flushing means and ing adapted for independent manual movement.

to open positions, one of the members being adapted to move the other member to its closed position, and means for damping the momentum of said members as they near their closed positions.

3. In a toilet bowl having a flushing means and a pair of seat members adapted to be moved to open positions, a pivot for the seat members, a spring power means operatively connected with one of said seat members for moving the two members to closed positions and tensioned through raising of said one of said members, means, operatively connected with the flushing means and actuated by one of said members moving to a. closed position for operating the flushing means, said members being adapted for independent manual movement to open positions, one of the members being adapted to move the other member to its closed position, and means for delaying action of the spring power means on said one of said members for a predetermined time interval.

4. In a toilet bowl having a flushing means and a seat member and a cover member adapted to be moved to open positions, a pivot for said members, a power means operatively connected with one of said seat members for moving the two members to closed positions, means operatively connected with the flushing means and actuated by one of said members moving to a closed position for operating the flushing means, said members being adapted for independent manual movement to open positions, and one of the members being adapt-ed to move the other member to its closed position.

5. In a toilet bowl having a flushing means and a seat member and a cover adapted to be moved to open positions, a pivot for the seat member and the cover, a power means operatively connected with said cover for moving the latter to closed position, means operatively connected with to open positions, and said 3,200,687 the flushing means and actuated by said cover moving to a closed position for operating the being adapted for independent manual movement cover being adapted to move the seatmember to itsclosedposition,

6. In a toilet bowl having a flushing meansand a seat member and a cover adapted to be moved to open positions, a pivot for the seat member and the cover, a power means operativelyconnected with said cover for moving position, means operatively connected with the flushing means and actuated by said cover moving to a closed position for operating the flushing means, said seat member adapted for independent open-positions, said cover the seat member to its closed position, and a brake the latter to closed manual movement to means for thepower means operated by the seat member and moved to a combined weight of the cover. l i l '7. In a toilet bowl having a flushing means and braking position by the a seat member and a cover adapted to be moved to open positions, a pivot for the seat member and the cover, a power means operatively connected said cover for moving the latter to closed position, means operatively connected with the flushing means and actuated by said cover moving closed position for operating the flushing to a means, said seat member and the cover being adapted for independent manual movement to 1 open positions, said coverbeing adapted to move the seat member to its, closedposition, a brake means for the power means operated by the seat member and moved to a braking position by the combined weight of the seat member and the by the flushing means, said seat member and the cover and the cover being,

movement to being adapted to move seat member and the a seat adapted to be cover,

the flushing means and actuated by said cover moving the latter to a closed position for operating the flushing means, said seat member and the cover being adapted for independent manual open positions; said cover being adapted to move the seat member to its closed position, a brake means for the spring power means operatedby the, seat member and moved to a braking position by the combined weight of v the seat member and the cover, means for delayof the cover by the power means for a predetermined time interval, and means for independently damping the momentum of the seat member and cover as they near their closed positions.

9. In a toilet bowl having a flushing means and moved to an open position, power means operatively con a pivot for the seat,

nected with the seat for moving the latter to a closed position, abrake for the power means, an

operating connection between the brake and the seat for applying the brake when the seatis seat for a predetermined time interval.

weighted, and means for delaying actuation of the FERNAND L. BERCOT.

pivot for the seat member and closed position, means operatively connected with, 

